Arcane Illnesses
Magic comes at a cost in Serathorne. Whether minor user or magic savant, everyone must pay their toll to the weave. For some, that price is their mortality.
Cradle-Kindled
The infant’s magic sparks immediately after birth. Upon exit from the womb, their magic awakens in a vessel not strong enough to house it. The small body exhausts itself attempting to contain the power. The result is always fatal as loved ones watch the essence of life flow from the newborn with the magic.
Seeping Sickness (*Wisps of White)
When a youth’s magic awakens and white wisps of smoke seep from their body. The youth will live, but will not retain any magical energies. Often, these youth are worshipped by the Pale Ascendents as they are believed to have defeated the god Nhar’zul.
Seeping Sickness (*Wisps of Black)
A fatal condition when a youth’s magic awakens and seeps from their body in wisps of black smoke. Their magic and their life force seeping from their body until they wither away. Whereas a newborn babe will drift off to Nhar’zul within hours, a youth could live for weeks or months as their life-force slowly seeps from their body.
Caster's Drain
The spell has ended. The focus energy ceased. But still it runs. Draining from the casters body in an unseen torrent until they with away and die. Always fatal. A painful, pitiful death that does not differentiate between rich or poor, peasant or noble.
The Final Surge
Not a wound, but obliteration of a nervous system through excess. No explosion, no gaping wounds, just the unraveling of a life thread from sudden and fatal overcasting.